Luck not doing Headley any favors in slump

Slow start not all that different than beginning of last year's career season

San Diego Padres' Chase Headley follows the flight of his RBI-single against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game in Denver, Saturday, June 8, 2013. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
— AP

San Diego Padres' Chase Headley follows the flight of his RBI-single against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game in Denver, Saturday, June 8, 2013. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
/ AP

“That way you can feel good about something,” Headley said. “When you are beating yourself down, it’s tough to do. I’m critical of myself, for sure, but I also don’t want to just be constantly negative and not do anything to help myself out.”

It’s the sort of mindset that sets the Padres’ coaching staff at ease through all of this.

That’s why Headley's been in the lineup every day, save for a breather in Colorado earlier this month. That’s why they haven’t even broached the subject of a significant drop in the order while he works his way through his struggles.

Headley can simply handle the ups and downs of a season, and they know it.

“With Chase specifically, he’s not hard to handle,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “He comes to play every day, he plays hard every day, he’s prepared every day and we need him. We need him defensively. He’s a smart player. Even on those days where he might not get his hits, we’ve got him in there just based on his defense. He’s tough mentally. On any given day, he’s capable of breaking through.”

Added second baseman Logan Forsythe: “Nobody in (this clubhouse) is worried about Chase. He is still swinging the bat real well, but he hasn’t been getting results. When he finds his groove, it’s just going to be like last year.”

Headley, too, believes it’s all just a matter of time.

“Whenever you’re going through a stretch like this, there’s a number of things that are kind of working against you,” Headley said. “Pitchers are just making pitches. You’re not swinging at the pitches you want to. You’re hitting the ball right at people.

“There’s generally no one thing that’s going wrong, and that’s the case with this. And again, I know it’s going to change.”